The disappointment of the early season is the offense. The surprise, though, is the defense. It’s not just carrying most days — even in losses like Cincinnati where it held an offense averaging 31.5 points to 13 points.

Here are several categories that show how this defense is succeeding thus far:

1. Ten interceptions. That leads the league, and is more than the nine they had all last year. It suggests this defense will top the 18 interceptions it had twice (2008, 2013) for highs of the last decade. The interception total also helps the defense overcome some stats that could be troubling: Opposing quarterbacks 99.6 rating (10th overall) and the 11 sacks, which was supposed to be a strength and is tied for a decidedly average 14th in the league. Another turnover category the Dolphins aren’t excelling at is in forcing two fumbles and recovering one. But interceptions? It’s not just the number, it’s the situations. When Ryan Tannehill fumbled against the Jets and Xavien Howard intercepted on the next play, that changed the game.

2. 20.8 points per game. OK, I’m cheating here. That’s the effective number the Dolphins defense has given up if you take away the two touchdowns Tannehill’s turnovers resulted in against Cincinnati. You can even keep in the muffed snap by Tannehill at the Dolphins’ 22 that resulted in a New England touchdown. Here’s the point: In a league where the average team scores 23.9 points a game, the Dolphins defense is doing its job. That 20.8 points a game would rank eighth in the league.

3. First-down defense. It goes without saying the best way to have a good third-down defense starts on first down. And the Dolphins have been very good on first down. Only Chicago, Dallas and Jacksonville have done better than Miami’s average of yielding 4.6 yards on first down. Teams have run 25 times and passed 72 times against them. Their third-down percentage isn’t noteworthy – 44.4 percent, which ties Indianapolis for 24th in the league. But imagine what it would be if they weren’t so good on first downs …

4. 3.7 yards per rush. That ranks seventh in the league. This was considered by some (like me) to be the weak point of the team entering the season. Ndamukong Suh was gone, there wasn’t a big-name replacement and it looked to be a downhill proposition, especially if you said veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips would be cut after five games. The Dolphins ranked 16th against the run (4.1 yard average) last season and a dreary 31st in 2016 (4.8 yards). Second-year players Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor have stepped up their games and Akeem Spence has been a solid addition. This has been a pleasant strength of the Dolphins defense. They haven’t limited opposing runners to 3.7 yards a carry since 2011, when they ranked as the sixth-scoring defense (19.6 points a game).

5. 7.04 yards a pass attempt in their nickel package. The Dolphins offseason was structured around the idea of teams using a three-receiver set against them 65 percent of the time. They didn’t have the personnel for that last year. Enter first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins have faced 134 pass attempts for 944 net yards, according to stats compiled by @ckparrot. of the “3 Yards Per Carry” podcast. That’s 7.04 net yards an attempt compared to the 7.7 they yield in the base package. As a guideline, 7.04 net yards an attempt would rank 10th in defenses this year. Opponents naturally run better against the nickel package: 4.2 yards per carry versus 3.3 in the base package. The nickel package isn’t great for the Dolphins. It doesn’t rank among the Top 10 nickel defenses for yards yielded, for instance. But picking which package to use is literally the first line of defense for the Dolphins. And you’d have to think opponents would start running more and passing less, if the situation allows, against the Dolphins’ nickel defense.

6. Explosive plays. This is defined as rushing plays over 15 yards and passing plays over 20 yards. The Dolphins have given up 22 of those in five games. That ties for 12th in the league with Indianapolis, Buffalo and Philadelphia. (To show what the Dolphins offense is up against Sunday, Chicago ranks first in this category at 13 plays).

Who has the edge at key matchups in Sunday's game at Hard Rock Stadium? Dolphins or Bears?